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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 19:14:42 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Personal experiences of Yom Tov Rishon found in Talmudic Logic!!

Several postings mention the beauty of having a second day Yom Tov since
we can't fully recover from all the preparation for the first day till
the second day and therefore the 2nd day is a more appropriate time to
enjoy oneself (Gittele (v28n101), Aaron(v29n3), or the dissenting
opinion (from an Israeli, Menasheh) in v29n7).

It may come as a surprise but the personal experiences of these posters
is reflected in halacha. The Talmud, Sifray and Rashi treat the word ACH
in Biblical sentences as implying LIMITATION. I have explained this by
suggesting that ACH means USUALLY. For example, "USUALLY observe the
Shabath (Ex 31:13)" immediately suggests that there are LIMITATIONS or
EXCEPTIONS when you don't observe the Shabbath (See Footnote for
sources).

Similarly USUALLY YOU WILL BE HAPPY ON YOM TOV (Dt 16:15) implies that
MOST of Yom Tov you will be happy but not necessarily all of it.

However the Bible does not say WHICH day of Yom Tov is the exception.
After a short Talmudic discussion the Talmud (brought down in Rashi on
Dt 16:15) says 'It is the first day of Yom Tov when you can't
necessarily be happy both because of all the preparations as well as
because you are barging in to Yom Tov from the weekday work atmosphere'
Thus we see a (happy) harmony between our personal experiences and the
Talmudic derivation.

FOOTNOTE: See my article PSHAT & DERASH (Tradition, Winter 1980) or
visit the Rashi website (http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2b31-13.htm for a
discussion of all 42 times that ACH occurs in Tnach).

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA; rjhendel@juno.com;Moderator Rashi is Simple